SP1200 crackling sound

I'm getting a crackling sound lingering for a second or such after triggering a sound.



This is how it sounds even if i hit a hit a emtpy note assigned to a specific channel.


Is this the result of failing caps? (I hear this is a common problem but ive actually never cared to understand what it means)

Is this a fairly easy procedure or should i send it to a tech?

Hopefully theres someone out there who will help my baby get back to tip top shape!

I ran the diagnostics and the sound RAM + everything else came out "OK" so thats good i guess?

Heres a beat where you can hear it in action, its for example noticable around 15-20s.

(To help someone in the future since this will probably be fount through google)

It turned out to be oxidation, if you leave your nobs and sliders on the same volume it will develope oxidation = you need to exercise your nobs/sliders.

I just tweaked the shit out of every knob (mostly mix volume). (A clue that this would be oxidation is it crackling extra when you twist the knob.)

Hope this helps.

Good to know

Luckily the 60 aint got too many

are there dependable shops that specialize in doing clean ups/repairs on 1200's in the northeast? don't really want to send across the country to Forat and he seems pricey.

my pots are crackly, and ch6 output is all crackly in both individual out and in mix out.

no clue, but you should be happy theres one in your country

I was just about to ship mine to jazzcat in the UK (i live in sweden).



I think your problems can be fixed at home tho? Isnt it just replacing the filter cap on ch6 and the pot for mix out? With some googling it shouldnt be such a tough task.

ha very true! jazzcat looks to know what they're doing and very specialized

I was thinking about taking it in somewhere just to do an all out clean up, fix the crackles and output, maybe get an output boost mod/new faders, properly tune the outputs, change anything that's decaying etc to get it as close as possible to functionally new

but def will look into what i can do at home with filter cap (weary of messing anything up) and probably deoxit would fix crackle in the volume pot since I may never want to ship off my baby!

I understand, im planing to do that aswell in the future, so go for it!
How much would forat charge?

SP1200 replacement Floppy drive which works with DS-DD as well as HD disks $150

-my drive already works with HD disks, only some need to be taped. And i'm sure the more handy people can do it themselves

New bright Blue display modification (with LED backlight so it won't get dim) for the SP12 and 1200's $175, While they last!

-this may be worth it while still available, who knows if you'll be able to get a new one in say 10 years.


Sample input modification to allow monitoring of the input signal during sample mode $175
-since i monitor through my mixer not needed

Output Boost Modification on the Stereo and all 8 direct outs $300
-seems extremely pricey but i would want it

-no pricing on doing other replacements but overall seems like you would pay high, which prompted my question on who else works on these? talking almost 500 for 2 mods and not even everything I'd want, really the only downside with old machines

Whats the output boost needed for? I feel 100% satisfied with my outs.

In the future im definately going to send it off to be serviced and modded with a heat vent or such (I got the OG, doesnt overpower, its died like 5 times last year, but its a good thing to keep it more stable, cant be good to run that hot).

I got the LED screen which i enjoy a lot. I installed a white on blue LED screen on my s950 aswell to match it so they look very dope together. (If i send my SP off to service ill add blue lights just to go crazy on the matching )

I recently bought a Emax tahts on its way across the world to me, which ill have to replace the screen on aswell.

yabyum wrote:New bright Blue display modification (with LED backlight so it won't get dim) for the SP12 and 1200's $175, While they last!

-this may be worth it while still available, who knows if you'll be able to get a new one in say 10 years.

It is a generic LCD that you can buy very cheaply (<$10?) from numerous Chinese suppliers.

You will be able to get a new one in say 10 years.

yabyum wrote:Output Boost Modification on the Stereo and all 8 direct outs $300
-seems extremely pricey but i would want it

The SP does not have a stereo output, I assume that text is a cut and paste from his MPC prices.

Why does anyone need this mod, does it change the character of the sound at all, or does it just make it louder?

If it just makes it louder, what is the point, just turn up the gain of whatever input it is plugged into?

Though, it would be good to have a list of the resistor values used in these mods. I assume that is all they are, changing a resistor to a different value in the feedback loop of an opamp, or number of opamps, in each channels output circuitry.

yabyum wrote:-no pricing on doing other replacements but overall seems like you would pay high, which prompted my question on who else works on these? talking almost 500 for 2 mods and not even everything I'd want, really the only downside with old machines

If you are paying someone to do this work by the hour, and they are doing it as a business and not a hobby, and they want to make a living off that business and keep it going, then you are going to have to pay.

Forat's prices are at the high end, but he does have the reputation as the go to man for these type of mods, and does know what he is doing.

DIY it if you want it cheap, but if you expect someone else to do it for you, and they are doing it as part of their business, you have to be prepared to pay.

Try looking up loopwhole beats tell em mike from fl told you about him..hes dope beat maker and does great work on the sp1200s..hes in Brooklyn or queens..try him on facebook

Try looking up loopwhole beats tell em mike from fl told you about him..hes dope beat maker and does great work on the sp1200s..hes in Brooklyn or queens..try him on facebook

nice! thanks found him on facebook, pricing out a few options with local synth shops

output boost - Mine does seem to be on the low end, on the output, the sp level has to be almost double the mpc's level